So, Sunday, Feb. 18 has arrived. That’s the date the WIAA was supposed to announced matchups, sites and times for the regional round of the state basketball tournaments.
But the very wintry February weather the state experienced earlier this month threw a wrench into those plans.
Last week, the WIAA gave districts until Monday to complete their qualifying tournaments. While many districts completed their tournaments by Saturday, several took advantage of that extension.
So we can’t give you definitive matchups according to the state’s RPI rankings, but we can give you a pretty good idea.
As of Saturday night, 12 Clark County basketball teams had clinched state berths. Of the boys teams, there are Union (4A), Battle Ground (4A), Prairie (3A), Columbia River (2A), La Center (1A), King’s Way Christian (1A) and Seton Catholic (1A). Of the girls teams, there are Camas (4A), Prairie (3A), Hudson’s Bay (3A), Washougal (2A) and King’s Way Christian (1A).
A 13th team, the La Center girls, is one of those teams facing a Monday district playoff game. The Wildcats face Montesano at 2 p.m. Monday at King’s Way Christian for District 4’s final berth to the 1A state tournament.
So let’s take a look at who and where those local state-bound teams might be playing next weekend.
These are based on RPI rankings as of 5 p.m. Sunday. A word of caution: Those rankings can still change between now and when the WIAA sets the matchups on Tuesday. I’ll also be updating these potentials throughout the day Monday, along with other statewide matchups, on our high school blog.
Remember the top 8 seeds are assured of advancing to the Tacoma Dome (4A and 3A) and Yakima SunDome (3A and 2A). Seeds 1-4 and 9-12 would play at regional sites close to home. For Clark County teams, that has meant playing at Battle Ground High School in past years.
4A BOYS: Union is currently seeded No. 1, which would mean the Titans would play No. 8 Battle Ground. But the Titans have been wavering between 1 and 2 with Gonzaga Prep. If Union slips to No. 2 again, the Titans would face No. 7 Curtis, while Battle Ground would travel to Spokane to meet G-Prep.
3A BOYS: The red-hot Prairie Falcons are currently seeded No. 7, which would mean traveling east to play No. 2 Mount Spokane. However, top-ranked Eastside Catholic has not yet secured a berth to regional. The Crusaders face Garfield on Monday. If Eastside loses that game, Prairie would move up to No. 6 seed, which would mean traveling to face — wait for it — Kelso! … For the fourth time. The WIAA passed an amendment last spring that kept league rivals from facing each other in the regional round, but that only applies to the elimination games involving teams seeded No. 9 to 16. So it could be Falcons-Hilanders, part IV.
2A BOYS: All 16 spots to state have been claimed (but rankings could still change), and it looks likely that Columbia River will lock in as the No. 2 seed. That means a game close to home against No. 7 Selah in a regional rematch from 2018.
1A BOYS: All 16 spots here have also been claimed. That would leave La Center as the No. 2 seed and a game close to home against No. 7 Deer Park. King’s Way Christian sits as the No. 11 seed and would play close to home against No. 14 Overlake. Seton Catholic is currently the No. 13 seed and would travel to play No. 12 Bellevue Christian.
4A GIRLS: Camas is currently seeded No. 12, which would mean a regional game close to home. But Chiawana (currently in the No. 13 position) faces University (No. 14) in a winner-to-state game Monday. That leaves the Papermakers playing wait-and-see. If Chiawana wins, that win may be enough to push the Riverhawks back over Camas to No. 12, meaning Camas would be headed to the Tri-Cities to face Chiawana. But a University win could mean Camas is close to home against University.
3A GIRLS: Prairie currently sits as the No. 2 seed, which could mean a regional game against No. 7 Bethel — a rematch of the Falcons’ loss in the bi-district semifinals. But Kamiakin, currently at No. 4, has not clinched a state berth yet. If the Braves fail to advance, Prairie could be facing Arlington. Hudson’s Bay currently sits at No. 13, which would mean road trip for the Eagles. But if No. 12 Kennewick fails to advance, Bay could slide up to No. 12 and a game close to home. But, then again, Roosevelt sits at No. 14, and if the Roughriders win on Monday, that could move Roosevelt back over Bay, meaning that’s your regional matchup — Bay vs. Roosevelt in Seattle.
2A GIRLS: The 16 state berths have been secured, so it looks pretty good that Washougal, currently the No. 7 seed, will be heading east to face No. 2 seed East Valley of Spokane.
1A GIRLS: King’s Way Christian is in, and currently in the No. 16 position. That could be where the Knights end up, if Montesano beats La Center on Monday. That would mean King’s Way would be traveling to either Medical Lake or Freeman. If La Center wins, the Wildcats will be the No. 16 seed, and travel to face Medical Lake or Freeman. Then King’s Way would travel to face Freeman or Zillah as the No. 15 seed. Either way, local teams will be heading east this weekend.
Tim Martinez is the assistant sports editor prep editor for The Columbian. He can be reached at 360-735-4538, tim.martinez@columbian.com or follow his Twitter handle @360TMart.
